Who we are….

Entertainment Finance Today => Complex sutff made digestible

Film – TV – Finance

What we do…

No matter if you are a producer, investor, director, writer, actor, network- or distribution executive, or anyone who creates movie or TV content, our courses, seminars, and workshops answer vital questions including:

how to create a globally viable project

how story development impacts profits

what green-light criteria are essential

how films and TV projects are financed

how to feasibly budget a project

what the various financial models entail

how to reduce/eliminate risks for producers and investors

how the various models of financing can change the bottom line and what pitfalls to avoid

what contractual terms and conditions are important to ensure proper protection, funding, and profits on any given project

how to differentiate between a major studio and independent films

how to deal with low budget projects versus higher budgeted films

how to attract talent

how to secure talent

how to decide which talent optimizes a projects value and its profits

how to secure distribution

how the US and foreign markets work

how and why the market dictates what projects are made and for how much

when and how to approach investors

how to secure investors

how to prepare a business plan for your project that entices investors and distributors

how to manage revenues

how to make profits

how to protect profits

The courses provide you with a solid understanding of how financial deals are structured today, and how projects are realized from the germ of an idea to achieving profits. in the global market place.

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Who we are…

Film Finance TV was founded in 2013 by Executive Producer and Financier Jeanette B. Milio in cooperation with the industry magazine Screen International and Bloomberg Television. Film Finance TV produces round tables, workshops, and other educational events around the subject of film and television financing in Hollywood. As the motion picture & television industry is undergoing constant and rapid changes rules have changed for production, distribution, and financing of content. Film Finance TV events shed light on new rules, trends and facts on how to best maneuver through the complex Hollywood Entertainment Finance industry safely. Round table discussions and workshop include leading executives from major studios, agencies, foreign distributors, banks and other financing institutions, who provide valuable insights and graciously share essential and up to date parameters in areas of film financing, production, and distribution of film and television programming.

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Who guest speakers include …

(in no particular order):

Robert Cort, major motion picture producer and Academy Award-winning producer of the film “On the basis of Sex”.Robert W. Cort has produced fifty-two films, including Outrageous Fortune, Three Men and a Baby, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Mr. Holland’s Opus, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Runaway Bride, Jumanji, and Save the Last Dance. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School, he worked for the Central Intelligence Agency and McKinsey & Company. He lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife, Rosalie Swedlin, a manager of writers and directors. Prior to working in the film industry, Robert was an analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency in the 1970s. Once in the film industry, Robert has held prominent positions for Columbia Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, and Interscope Communications. He is a published author with a novel that became a bestseller, in addition, to articles and essays published in The New York Times and The New Yorker. Robert is also currently a professor of production on the faculty of The American Film Institute.

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Cassian Elwes, Producer, Former Talent Agent William Morris, Academy Award-winning producer of the feature film “Mudbound”. Elwes began his producing career with 1983’s “Oxford Blues” starring Rob Lowe and Ally Sheedy and quickly went on to make another 29 films, including “Men At Work,” with Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen, and “The Chase” with Sheen. In 1994, Elwes joined William Morris and headed William Morris Independent for 15 years. He financed such indie hits as “Slingblade” and “The Apostle,” both of which were nominated for multiple Oscars. “Monster’s Ball” was their follow up, which won the “Best Actress” Oscar for Halle Berry, the first African American woman to do so. Wikipedia calls Cassian Elwes one of the most important figures in independent cinema and an expert in the field of arranging financing and distribution for independent films, having done so for 283 films during his tenure at William Morris Independent. Since leaving William Morris Independent, Elwes has either produced or executive produced 40 films including John Hillcoat’s “Lawless,” Lee Daniels’ “The Paperboy,” and David Lowery’s “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”, which was nominated for a Gotham Independent Film Award for “Best Feature.” Elwes produced the hit period drama “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” which featured an all-star cast headed by Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey. He also executive produced J.C. Chandor’s “All Is Lost” starring Robert Redford and executive produced and arranged financing for the Oscar-winning hit “Dallas Buyers Club” directed by Jean-Marc Vallee, starring Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto and Jennifer Garner. Additionally, Elwes executive produced the Kevin Costner release “Black and White”, directed by Mike Binder, and has produced both Werner Herzog’s “Queen of the Desert” and Eli Roth’s “Knock Knock”, which played in the ‘Midnight Section’ of Sundance 2015. He is in post on “Elvis & Nixon” starring Michael Shannon and Kevin Spacey. Cassian is currently filming the 1980’s Los Angeles-set thriller “The Billionaire Boy’s Club”, starring Ansel Elgort, Taron Egerton, and Kevin Spacey.

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Richard Botto, Founder and CEO of Stage 32 (stage32.com), the online platform dedicated to connecting and educating content creators and film and television professionals worldwide. As a producer, Richard worked on such films as the Sundance favorite (and Best Screenplay winner) ANOTHER HAPPY DAY written and directed by Sam Levinson, the documentary CRUTCH, the upcoming RAIN-BEAU’S END and a variety of short films. His book, CROWDSOURCING FOR FILMMAKERS: INDIE FILM AND THE POWER OF THE CROWD was published by Focal/Routledge under the AFM Presents banner (https://amzn.to/2Ov3rgC). Prior to launching Stage 32, he was the founder, publisher and editor of RAZOR Magazine, a national men’s lifestyle magazine which had a readership of 1.5 million at its peak. I was also a sports radio host on a variety of programs on ESPN and Fox affiliates.

Rena Ronson, UTA. Rena Ronson heads the Independent Film Group and is a partner at leading global talent and entertainment company United Talent Agency. One of the industry’s pre-eminent packaging and finance executives, Ronson specializes in global film finance, distribution and marketing strategies for independent and co-financed features, helping the world’s most acclaimed independent filmmakers see their work reach global audiences. Ronson oversees a group of agents known for packaging and representing many high-profile and critically-praised independently financed films from a diverse range of American and international filmmakers, including Greta Gerwig, Asghar Farhadi, Wes Anderson, Michael Showalter, Judd Apatow, Marielle Heller, Haifaa Al-Mansour, Noah Baumbach, James Ponsoldt and Mike White, to name a few. Most recently, Ronson played an integral role in the 2018 Academy Award nominated films I Tonya, Call Me By Your Name and Lady Bird, as well as Bryan Fogel’s Oscar-winning documentary ICARUS. Throughout her career, Ronson has been involved in numerous productions and co-productions, packaging, structuring, financing and selling hit films, including the Apatow production The Big Sick, Craig Gillespie’s I, Tonya, Amy Schumer’s I Feel Pretty and Ted Melfi’s Hidden Figures.

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Gadi Wildstrom, Collection Agent, Partner in Freeway Entertainment. Gadi Wildstrom is a trained lawyer in international law who began his career at the Ministry of Justice in the Netherlands, moving on to become Vice President of MeesPierson Communications, the talent management and entertainment division of merchant and private bank MeesPierson (now ABN AMRO), which subsequently became Fintage House. In 2001 Gadi co-founded Freeway Entertainment Group with Cecile Huberts and Martijn Meerstadt. Gadi oversees all of Freeway’s operations, with a focus on overall strategy, developing and protecting commercial relationships and top-level client liaison. Over the years he has worked on hundreds of titles including Twilight, Slumdog Millionaire, Match Point, The Grudge, Lord of War, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and The Queen. Gadi is a fan of the mafia genre with Al Pacino’s Scarface ranking as his all-time favorite performance. Each year he most looks forward to the key international markets and festivals in the industry calendar. “I particularly love the buzz that you get at Cannes and AFM. These are the two markets that consistently deliver the most action, with the highest number of deals being brokered. Anyone who’s serious in this business is there in person.” Freeway Entertainment Group specializes in collection account management, licensing and distribution for a range of rights holders, including producers, sales agents, distributors, completion guarantors and financiers across the global entertainment sector. With offices in the UK, Spain, Hungary, and The Netherlands, and representative offices in France, Germany and the USA, Freeway has been involved international transaction management for thousands of films across North American, European, Australasian and Latin American territories.

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Richard Kiratsoulis, Financial Advisor and Executive Consultant to high net worth individuals and a private equity fund. Professional services entail evaluating and negotiating selective film financing, production, and distribution transactions. Recent financing transactions for feature films in the $25-$80 million production budget range include Summit’s September 2013 release The Tomb (Stallone & Schwarzenegger), Joe Carnahan’s The Grey(Liam Neeson), Killing Them Softly (Brad Pitt), and Machine Gun Preacher (Gerard Butler). Clients have provided funding for production budgets in excess of $450 million in the areas of senior and subordinated debt, mezzanine, bridge, tax credits, P&A, and equity financing. From 1994-2005, Mr. Kiratsoulis was President and COO of Media 8 Entertainment, where he served as the principal production executive on the Academy Award winning Monster (Charlize Theron), Upside of Anger (Joan Allen, Kevin Costner), Havoc (Anne Hathaway, J. Gordon-Levitt, Channing Tatum), and Eye of the Beholder (Ewan McGregor, Ashley Judd), to name a few. Previously, held Chief Operating positions in other diversified industries with direct responsibility for up to 6,000 employees. Began career as a Certified Public Accountant in Massachusetts.

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Paul Colichman, CEO Here Media, Mr. Colichman serves as Chief Executive Officer of Here Media, the world’s leading multimedia company targeting the LGBT consumer. Mr. Colichman co-founded Here Media and sits on its board of directors. The company works with more than 100 international distributors and broadcasters. Mr. Colichman’s motion picture Departures received the 2008 Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award®. Mr. Colichman also produced Gods and Monsters, directed by Bill Condon and starring Ian McKellen, Brendan Fraser, and Lynn Redgrave, which received three Academy Award® nominations (winning for Best Adapted Screenplay), four Golden Globe nominations (winning for Best Supporting Actress), three Independent Spirit Awards, and numerous other international accolades, including the National Board of Review’s Best Picture honor. Twilight of the Golds, starring Brendan Fraser, Jennifer Beals, Faye Dunaway, Garry Marshall, and Rosie O’Donnell, won two Cable Ace Awards. Mr. Colichman also produced the Academy Award® nominated film Tom and Viv, starring Willem Dafoe, Miranda Richardson, and Rosemary Harris. Mr. Colichman’s Here TV, a division of Here Media, also recently earned a Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award nomination for the documentary 30 Years From Here, which chronicles the 30-year battle against the AIDS pandemic. The company also garnered a Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award nomination for The Ribbon of Hope Celebration. Mr. Colichman and his films have received extensive recognition. In addition to Academy Awards®, Golden Globes, and GLAAD Media Awards, Mr. Colichman’s productions have won Aurora Awards, Davey Awards, W3 Awards, the ACLU Pride Partnership Award, Outfest Awards, Omni Intermedia Awards, American Design Awards, Aegis Awards, Cine Awards, Communicator Awards, Creativity Awards, Hermes Awards, Telly Awards, Summit MEA Awards, and many others. Mr. Colichman received a BA in Political Science and a MBA with Honors from UCLA Anderson. He has received awards from the ACLU, Outfest, the Stonewall Democrats and GLAAD. He was named one of UCLA Anderson’s 100 most Inspirational Alumni.

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Jeff Most, Most Films, Jeff Most Productions produced a diverse mix of notable films and television series, which span an array of genres from comedies to thrillers, dramas, action films, and biographical stories to commercially successful franchises, such as THE CROW and award winning historical films such as THE COURAGEOUS HEART OF IRENA SENDLER.Jeff Most has been a respected feature film and television producer in Hollywood for over 25 Years. Jeff has a solid reputation for producing artistically successful and commercially profitable feature films with great production values. Jeff grew up in N.Y.C. and graduated from The United Nations International High School. Thereafter, he graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of Film and Television where he majored in screenwriting at the prestigious Dramatic Writing Program. Jeff began his career in New York working as the assistant to the producer of the “Saturday Night Live” film unit. Before graduating NYU, Jeff worked on the cult hit “Liquid Sky” and on the classic, “Scarface”. Jeff Most produced THE SPET, which starred Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone and James Woods. The film, which opened number one at the box office, set a record for its opening weekend and was an international box office success. Thereafter, Jeff developed and produced THE CROW, and its seminal soundtrack album, which sold 8 million copies. Based on the comic book series, the film was directed by Alex Proyas and starred Brandon Lee, Michael Wincott, and Ernie Hudson. The film set an opening weekend record and stayed atop the box office for three consecutive weeks. THE CROW was a worldwide phenomenon and spawned three feature film sequels, video games, soundtracks, merchandise and a syndicated television series THE CROW: STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN.

Monela Kaplan, International Producer, Founder eMotion Entertainment. Film and television producer with significant experience in development, production, post-production, and marketing. Owns a portfolio of international industry contacts in the entertainment world. Speaks multiple languages. Personal MO: Connect. Communicate. Create.Develops and produces film and TV projects with commercial appeal and artistic depth.Completed project under eMotion Entertainment label: SEE YOU SOON starring Liam McIntyre and Harvey Keitel, US-release July 26, 2019 by Vertical Entertainment. In active development and packaging: CLOAK & DAGGER, AFTER TUESDAY, BEYOND THE SPELL OF THE NIGHT.

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Susanne Bohnet, Producer, Financier, Distributor. Founder Serafini Pictures. Susanne Bohnet was previously heading the U.S office of Equity Pictures (Equity Pictures has been the second largest film fund in Germany) where she initiated strategic partnerships with U.S producers, negotiated deals with financiers and talent, oversaw production and handled the day to day operations on behalf of the company. During her time with Equity Pictures, the company’s annual investments grew from USD $30 million in 2002 to USD $100 million in 2004. Ms. Bohnet worked with Equity Pictures on films with budgets between USD $2 million and USD $55 million. Prior to managing funds with Equity Pictures, Ms. Bohnet was S.V.P of Cinemedia KG, for whom she created a presence in the US. Cinemedia is a German company, which was very active in acquiring film rights for the German market, as well as investing equity capital into major U.S. films, such as “What Women Want” starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. Currently, Serafini Pictures’ sole focus is producing and distributing commercially viable content for underserved audiences, such as African American, Latino, Asian, Female and LGBTQI viewpoints. The musical “Bazodee” marks Serafini’s first in-house distributed film, which earned the company enormous critical acclaim. “16 Bars”, a rap Musical, moves into production in October of 2018 in NYC

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Clay Epstein, Producer, Sales Agent, Distributor. Clay Epstein began his career working in Distribution with Kushner-Locke and worked his way from Production Assistant toWorldwide Sales Coordinator. In 2001, he was hired as Sales Director at OverseasFilmgroup. While there, he helped transition the sales division from Overseas Filmgroup toFirst Look Studios. He was promoted to Director of Operations and then Sales Executive where he oversaw the sales of 300 titles. In 2006, Clay joined the newly created sales and production company, The Little Film Company as VP Sales & Acquisitions. He helped grow the company into a leading boutique sales agency representing such prestigious titles asTSOTSI (2006, Academy Award Winner for Best Foreign Language), THE LAST STATION (2010, Academy Award Nominee for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role) and EYE OF THE STORM (2012, AACTA Winner for Best Lead Actress) In 2012, Clay joined Arclight Films, as Senior Vice President Sales & Acquisitions responsible for all aspects of Marketing and distribution. While there, he represented such feature films as Paul Schrader ’s DOG EAT DOG starring Nicolas Cage, PAPER PLANES starring Sam Worthington, PREDESTINATION starring Ethan Hawke and LAST KNIGHTS starring Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman. Clay launched Film Mode Entertainment in 2016, a fully independent worldwide sales agent and production entity. He currently sits on the Executive Committee of the Independent Film and Television Alliance (IFTA) Board of Directors and is a member or BAFTA LA and the Australian Academy Cinema Television Arts (AACTA).

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Pascal Borno, Intl. Sales Agent. Pascal Borno is a seasoned entertainment executive with 24 years of experience in the areas of licensing, production and marketing of film and television properties worldwide. He has held senior management positions at several companies over the years including six years with legendary producer Dino De Laurentiis as well as with ‘The Kushner-Locke Company’ and Independent Pictures, a company owned by New Line Cinema. Borno has also run his own company, ‘Conquistador Entertainment’, which licensed and marketed films such as the Christian Bale film, Rescue Dawn (2006). Most recently, Borno was President of Sales and Acquisitions at Arclight Films and headed up the sales team, which was responsible for the licensing of films such as The Bank Job (2008) starring Jason Statham. As an expert in his field, he has a solid track record of identifying marketable properties all over the world. His diverse background has enabled him to structure creative financing deals for film production, which has included international co-productions as well as ‘soft money’ deals. In addition, Borno is recognized on several international banks’ lists of creditworthy executives. This background combined with his knowledge of bank financing and particularly off-balance sheet finance enables Borno to an invaluable part of any production and distribution team.

Martin Barab, leading Entertainment Attorney, Martin J. Barab, grew up in Southern California. Martin graduated from U.S.C. in 1967 with a B.S. degree in Finance. He graduated from Loyola University School of Law in 1970 with a J.D. degree. Working as an entertainment attorney, Martin has been a production, distribution and financing attorney for numerous independent distribution and production entities. He has represented over 100 production entities, foreign sales companies, banks, financiers, as well as foreign distributors. Martin has organized and was involved in founding of major motion picture companies such as: Nu Image, Millennium Pictures, Franchise Pictures, Moonstone Entertainment, American World Pictures, he has represented independent motion picture production and distribution companies such as: Cannon Pictures, 21st Century Entertainment, Behavior Worldwide, Trimark Pictures (Currently Lion’s Gate Pictures), Fries Film Group, Showcase Entertainment, Providence Entertainment, Liberty International Inc., Crystal Sky Entertainment, Hannibal Pictures, Emmett Furla Films, Elevated Films and Cassian Elwes as well as many others. Martin has produced and/or was an executive producer of 30 independent motion pictures: DOG OF FLANDERS, LOVE AND SEX (1999) , STATE AND MAIN (2000) , 2010 PIRANHA 3D. (see imdb) and TOKAREV (starring Nicolas Cage) in 2013. In 2007, Martin Barab joined the law firm of Hamrick & Evans LLP, in an of-counsel capacity, running its entertainment litigation and production departments. Martin owns a finance and production and consulting entity in New Mexico called Double Tree Entertainment LLC. Martin was the President of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association from 1997-1998. Martin is a member of the Santa Fe Rotary Club and a member of the Producers Guild of America. Martin is married and resides in Santa Fe and Los Angeles.

Michael Cowan, Phoenix Worldwide Entertainment, Film financer, Producer and Distributor, For the last 30 years Michael built a number of production companies and sales companies and distribution companies. Have produced over 100 films from budgets of US$100,000 to US$70M since 1998. Founded Arclight Entertainment a sales company. Turn over AUS$50M (2003). Launched and put together Movision Entertainment which raised over US$350M in film production financing as an equity investor using the UK tax incentives (2003). Co-founded La Fabrique De Film a French distribution company in 2004. The company released around 14 films a year theatrical and around 30 on video. Co-founded Velvet Octopus a film sales (2006). Working at present at Phoenix Worldwide Entertainment, a film/TV sales and production financing company (20014). Specialties: Film financing, corporate asset-backed lending, packaging projects, sales, and building and running media companies.

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Bob Fiorella, Seapoint, With over 25 years experience in media (traditional and digital media), consumer goods, consumer electronics and retail, Bob Fiorella is a “C-level” professional (CFO/COO/CEO) who specializes in transforming, leading and growing start-up to mid-sized companies as well as divisions of larger public companies. Most recently, Bob advised on the financial strategy and operations of a start-up company that launched an Android tablet into the U.S. market in 2014. The company generated over $10 million in sales in less than 3 months. Prior to that, Bob architected the strategy, development, and growth of the Cinedigm Entertainment Group; starting with a money-losing the alternative content company that, within 3 years, became the largest independent distributor of physical and digital content in the United States with over $300 million in consumer sales. Cinedigm’s stock (NASDAQ: CIDM) grew threefold over that period. Bob also raised over $10 million in strategic working capital. In the past, Bob has held finance (e.g., CFO), strategic planning (e.g., CSO), business development and operating positions at Cinedigm, Fox, Universal Studio and Disney and also sat on the Board of Directors and Audit Committee of a public retail company (Movie Gallery, Inc.). Bob holds a BS in Economics from Cornell University and an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management.

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Marke Borde, Producer and former founder of Freestyle Releasing, an independent US distribution, and film releasing company. Most notable feature films produced by Mark are Replicas starring Keanu Reeves, and Chappaquiddick, starring Ed Helms, Kate Mara, and Jason Clarke.

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Jonathan Dana, Code Entertainment. Code Entertainment finances, develops and produces theatrical feature films and through its Code Management division manages writers, directors, novelists, and entertainment related estates. Founded in 1994, Code has produced 17 feature films, working with both emerging and established talent, including Academy Award-winning actors, directors, composers and cinematographers. The company operates with a revolving equity fund and produces and finances 2–3 films per year. Code Management has established an important list of clients that write and direct for both independent and major studios. The company, originally named Neverland Films, changed its name in 2005 to Code Entertainment. Code’s partners are Bart Rosenblatt, Al Corley, Rick Berg, Rich Freeman, and Eugene Musso. Jonathan Dana serves as a marketing and sales representative for the company’s feature films.

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Jonathan Reiss, Author “Think Outside The Box”, Jonathan is named one of “10 Digital Directors to Watch” by Daily Variety, Jon Reiss is a critically acclaimed filmmaker who has produced and directed three feature films most recently Bomb It about graffiti and the battle over visual public space throughout the world. Based on his experience releasing Bomb It with a hybrid strategy he has written Think Outside the Box Office: The Ultimate Guide to Film Distribution in the Digital Era. He also speaks around the world at film festivals, schools, and organizations on this topic.

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Braxton Pope, Film and television series producer. Braxton Pope is a feature film and television producer who maintained a production deal with Lionsgate. His newest film is The Trust starring Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage, Elijah Wood, and Sky Ferreira. Pope produced The Canyons written by Bret Easton Ellis, directed by Paul Schrader and starring Lindsay Lohan. The film generated national press because of the innovative way in which it was financed and produced and was the subject of a lengthy cover story in the New York Times Magazine. It was released theatrically by IFC, was selected by the Venice Film Festival and named as one of the year’s best by the New Yorker. He produced the Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions feature film Shrink starring Kevin Spacey, Robin Williams and Gore Vidal which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and received a national theatrical release. He also produced The Take, which was released theatrically by Sony Pictures to rave reviews and was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival where it was touted as a “must see film.” He produced the feature film The Bondage which made its North American premiere at SXSW. He also produced horror and science fiction films for MGM and Lionsgate. He Executive Produced Pete Smalls is Dead starring Peter Dinklage and the feature film Life is Hot in Cracktown, starring Kerry Washington. He Executive Produced the feature documentary The Source Family which premiered in competition at SXSW and Sundance competition documentary City of Gold on Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold which IFC bought and is theatrically releasing. He is developing projects with Gus Van Sant, Gaspar Noe, Will Self, Denis Johnson, and Sarah Silverman. In television, he Executive Produced the Showtime pilots What’s Not To Love and Hedonism and a Lionsgate/FX comedy pilot Sweat Shop.

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Gabriela Tagliavini, Writer, Director. Gabriela Tagliavini is an award-winning writer/director whose 6th feature film “How To Break Up With Your Douchebag” (“Como Cortar a tu patan”) opened #1 in the box-office in Mexico, beating “Blade Runner.” She is currently nominated for BEST director and BEST Picture at the Imagen Awards (the Latino Golden Globes in America) for this film. The last film she directed for Starz and Voltage Pictures, “Border Run” stars Sharon Stone, Billy Zane, Manolo Cardona, and Miguel Rodarte. This film was nominated by the Imagen Awards for Best Picture of the year. Tagliavini’s forth featured, “Without Men,” starring Eva Longoria, Kate Del Castillo and Christian Slater, sold worldwide and premiered at the Latino Film Festival in Los Angeles. For this movie, she earned a nomination for Best Director. Her film “Ladies’ Night” (distributed by Disney/Buena Vista) was the #1 movie in the box office in Mexico in all 2004. It won three MTV Latin Movie Awards and its soundtrack (released by Sony) went platinum. Her first feature as director, “The Woman Every Man Wants,” earned her 3 best director awards in film festivals. She received a Bachelors Degree in film directing and a Masters Degree in screenwriting from the prestigious American Film Institute (AFI). She is also a renowned author and has two novels published with critical acclaim. She also worked on projects writing and directing for MTV, Vh1, CNN, ABC, Starz and HBO. Gabriela Tagliavini recently sold a pitch to SONY studios and another to Amazon.

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Paul Gulino, Screenwriting Professor Chapman University. Author of ” Screenwriting: The Sequence Approach”.Paul Gulino believes in Hitchcock’s adage that “films are made on paper.” Although students may obsess about a film’s look, all of the visual elements, he says, function to enhance the story. And that, ultimately, comes from the mind of the screenwriter. In spite of the fact that there seems to be a screenwriter behind every corner (in California, at least), screenwriting is something of a lost art, Gulino maintains, having seen hundreds of flat screenplays as a story analyst for Showtime Entertainment. Honing his own skills through writing for the theater and practicing the craft as taught by Frank Daniel and Milos Forman, Gulino secured an agent with William Morris on the basis of his thesis script. With that “real world” confirmation in hand, Gulino went on to write and see produced features, plays and comedy sketches. Screenwriting, he says, isn’t a craft you can learn from a book. “The best way is to learn from someone who knows the craft, so you can see how theories can be applied to your own work.” There must be something to that. Or at least it’s worked for screenwriter Paul Gulino.

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Barbara Jarvitz, Industry Veteran. “To use my years of distribution experience and current streaming expertise to monetize content for producers. Delivery, both physical and paperwork are my specialties and I love working with deadlines. I can make the process of delivery painless for both distribution outlets and producers. My current clients include Samuel Goldwyn Films and independent production companies. I seem to be specializing in distressed assets…these days “

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Gary Rubin, Producer, Distribution Executive. Gary Rubin, executive vice president of U.S. distributor Cohen Media, has over 25 years of experience in acquisitions, distribution and independent film finance. He has held senior positions for such companies as Artisan Pictures (The Blair Witch Project), First Independent Pictures (David Mamet’s Edmond), and Cohen Media (Oscar nominee Mustang).

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This guest speaker list constantly changes and represents only a limited selection of speakers, and is not complete.

Jim Milio

Frank Wegerhoff

Ulrike Kunzte

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Jeanette B. Milio has been involved in over 45 film & television projects, with a total production volume exceeding $250 million. She worked with leading European networks (incl. RTL, PRO 7, ARD, etc.), US networks (incl. HBO, Showtime, USA Network, ABC/Disney, etc.), and studios (Warner Bros. FOX, Sony, Lionsgate, etc.). Her productions included Academy Award ® winning talent in front and behind the camera. Over a span of 20 years and stretching across three continents Mrs. Milio worked in writing, development, production, acquisition & intl sales, and finance. 2006 she managed an equity fund for Far East National Bank, Los Angeles. 2010 she structured her own debt/equity fund in Europe. Recent films include “13”, starring Jason Statham, Academy Award ® winning actor Mickey Rourke, Sam Riley (Paramount Vantage); “The Experiment”, starring Academy Award ® winning actors Adrien Brody and Forrest Whitaker, (Sony); and “Dark Tide”, starring Academy Award ® winner Halle Berry (Lionsgate). In the TV space she was involved in “Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan”, (10 seasons, National Geographic Channel), “Global Beauty Masters” (2 seasons, TLC), and “The Look All Star”(CW). Mrs. Milio is a member of the Producer’s Council for The Producers Guild of America, an executive member of Women in Film and a member of the Cannes Film Festival Producer’s Network. Mrs. Milio is an inspirational speaker for the Global Female Leaders’ Summit in Zurich and the co-founder of the Film Finance Forum Zurich, Mrs. Milio teaches Film Financing in UCLA’s Entertainment Business Management Program. She is an expert speaker on film & television production & financing. Mrs. Milio was born and raised in Germany, where she obtained her Bachelor’s in Business (IHK Aachen). She immigrated in 1999 and studied screenplay writing (USC, Los Angeles). She enjoys yoga (she is a 500 hour Yoga Alliance certified yoga therapist) and spending time with her husband, their children, and dog in Los Angeles.LinkedInIMDB, Wikipedia)

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Jim Milio grew up in Chigaco, and his first toy was a video camera is parents gave him for Christmas. He was always drawn to the Hollywood industry, so it was not much of a surprise when the first he landed was with a major studio, Paramount Pictures. He started like many others in the mailroom and worked his way up to become an assistant, at which time he has the pleasure of working with Alfred Hitchcock. Today – more than thirty years later – Jim Milio has written, produced, or directed more than 500 hours of prime time television including Dog Whisperer for National Geographic, Founding Fathers for the History Channel, The Discovery Channel’s Eco-Challenge Australia, Rescue 911 for CBS, the Emmy nominated Great Moments in Disney Animation for ABC, and The Real Las Vegas for A&E. Milio wrote and directed Men Seeking Women starring Will Ferrell and was the co-executive producer of the highest grossing romantic comedy of all time, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Milio was co-chair of the Non-Fiction Committee of the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) and was a member of the Non-Fiction Steering Committee of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (ATAS) for two years. He has won three People’s Choice Awards (Dog Whisperer, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and Rescue 911) and been nominated for several Emmy Awards and Writer’s Guild Awards. Jim Milio created the globally known brand Dog Whisperer, based on the television series, which grossed over $90 million to date. Jim teaches “The Business of Entertainment” and “Direct and Produce Reality Television and Documentary Television” at UCLAx, and he is the Program Editor of Jeanette’s courses and workshops. LinkedInIMDB)

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Frank Wegerhoff was born and raised in Wuppertal, Germany, where his professional journey started out with him joining the police force. He soon realized that the job of a police officer was not conducive to his creative talents, which were subsequently better applied when he became a writer, director, and producer of film and television content in Germany. The European Academy Award-wining director, writer, and producer Frank Wegerhoff started his career in 1989. His work includes productions for Europe’s leading television networks including RTL, ARD (WDR), ZDF, RTL2, VOX, and Kabel1. Mr. Wegerhoff has produced and directed over 40 television programs in a variety of entertainment formats. The production volume of his work exceeds 85 million Euros to date. Frank Wegerhoff o recently shifted his career toward the educational and coaching sector and works with Jeanette on workshop and coaching sessions located primarily in Germany and focused toward leading executives. Franks newly launched Smartcochaing Cologne focuses on the coaching of top-level executives who have to perform in front of the camera. (LinkedIn IMDB)

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As a young girl, Ulrike was not interested in Barbie dolls. As soon as she knew how to read she locked herself in her room and entered worlds of her own. No children’s book could capture her interest as much as Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, and Shakespeare. The creative mind of a little girl was therefore destined to become a vivid and expressive creative soul. In her teens, Ulrike started writing poems and short stories, some of which were published and received awards. Storytelling was in her blood, which made the leap into film and television was an obvious one. Ulrike Kuntze has been involved in film television development and production since 1989. She started her career at the German network station RTL as the Assistant to the head of programming. She managed daytime and prime time game shows. In 1994 she transferred to the rights acquisition department to acquire U.S.-based film & television content. Her introduction in scripted content started with her work as an assistant director on Television series and movies, including primetime drama series for the network stations ARD and PROSIEBEN / SAT 1. Credits include “Circle of Fear” starring Katja Flint, as well as five seasons of the German primetime drama series “Wildbach”. Since 2017 Ulrike has been managing the development department for Alliance Cinema’s film & television projects. At present, her focus is on television prime time drama series produced as official treaty co-productions in Europe. In her free time. Ulrike recently joined Jeanette’s educational team and manages all speaking engagements and workshops in Europe. She furthermore selects the candidates for the Alliance Cinema Institute grants. In her free time, Ulrike is an avid yoga practitioner, a painter, and sculptor. Her modern art has been shown in various galleries throughout Europe. Ulrike Kunzte and lives in the area of Cologne Germany. (LinkedInIMDB)